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Learning
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Have
you ever danced before ? Are you an Experienced Dancer
?
Are you somewhere in between ? |
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staff will help you find the great dancer in you. Everyone
can learn any kind of dance. Reaching even for the highest
levels is just a matter of wanting, training and practicing.
Let our dance specialists take care of you and show you
how fun and easy dancing can be. Pick some of the options
below.We have great methods that help you move and dance
comfortably from the very first lesson. This way you will
learn faster and have a good time. |
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If
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Finding
a partner:
The rule of thumb
that you do not refuse an invitation to dance,
while usually very true, is a two edged sword.
Men should try to be conscious of the times
they should not ask. For instance, if the person
(We say "person" since necessity has
forced women to do much of the asking these
days) just got finished a really long fast dance,
they may need a break. If they are heading somewhere
when you decide to ask, there's a good chance
they can't dance at that time. Taking a few
minutes to look before you leap can help to
avoid an uncomfortable situation for all.
Attitude:
This example will give you a good idea of the
power of positive and negative. Have someone
stand on a chair. Taking their hand, try and
pull them down. Pretty easy wasn't it (like
I'm sure you really tried, that's ok, you get
the picture). Now get up on the chair your self.
With no help from the other person, try to pull
them up. Not a very easy task. Whining and complaining
have the same effect. They are contagious emotions
that pull everyone but the most positive of
people down. However, fun, laughter and openness
to whatever opportunity presents are contagious
too. It's not a perfect world, while ballroom
can feel pretty close sometimes, just accept
that everything has flaws and deal with it and
everyone will have a better time.
Private
lessons: Private
lessons between one student and an instructor
are the best form of lesson to improve your
personal dancing. Each lesson will concentrate
on your dance weaknesses and help you to become
a better dancer. More time is spent on creating
your own personal style then is possible in
group lessons. Group Classes: There are certain
do's and don'ts here that help everyone learn
and have a great time. Do be on time. Don't
talk while the instructor is teaching( it is
very insulting to an instructor and discourteous
to the rest of the class). Don't teach, your
instructor gets paid the big bucks because of
not only their knowledge, but for his or her
ability to convey that knowledge. Understanding
the subtleties in teaching even just a pattern
(And Heaven's forbid a technique!) is much more
complicated than most people think. Semi-Private
Lessons: Basically the same as a private lesson
except that the teacher works with a couple
or small group such as a formation or competitive
team. Again each lesson is taught on a more
personal level.
Social
Dancing:
When dancing
with someone socially, don't try to teach them
while dancing. Unless you are a trained professional
instructor (or asked for help), you should not
be teaching at all (a common mistake experienced
by most couples ). Secondly, while social dancing,
one should be enjoying the dancing. Thirdly,
it is inconsiderate to your partner and other
couples trying to maneuver on the dance floor.
Finally, because wise man say: "Person
who criticizes too many dance partners usually
end up with none".
It
is common to want to help improve someone. However,
knowing how to do something and being able to
impart that knowledge correctly to others, are
two entirely different things. We have seen
hundreds of cases of students trying to teach
another student a step or technique, which usually
ends up with some problem or another. It takes
much longer to unlearn a bad technique than
to learn a good one from scratch ,preferably
from someone trained to teach!
Patterns (those things most dancers call "steps")
are the different moves we learn. These are
made up of components, the pieces that make
up a pattern, and steps are the pieces that
make up components. You can think of them like
learning to write: steps (see definition below)
are like the alphabet: a, b, c, d, etc. Putting
several of the alphabets letters together (several
individual steps) you form words (components).
Linking several of these words (components),
we form a sentence (pattern). Link several sentences
(patterns) and you have a paragraph (grouping
or routine). Step – the smallest
parts or part of any component or pattern. It
involves one movement of the foot with a change
of weight (this term is often used incorrectly
in place of pattern). Component
–small number of steps combining to form a part
of a pattern.Pattern – a grouping of steps or
dance components put together. This is also
sometimes known as a figure or school figure.
Grouping – a combination of patterns
that form a small routine.
Line
of Dance: the
progression of dance around the dance floor
in a counter-clockwise direction.
Tips
for Couples Learning Together
1.
Do not try teaching your partner!
Often, one partner picks up much faster than
the other. It's very easy and natural for the
more advanced partner to want to help their
partner and offer advice on how to do whatever
the instructor is teaching. Don't do it! Often
(actually almost all the time) your partner
will greatly resent this. Most couples view
themselves as equals, and they quite like this
status. When one person tries to teach, it throws
their view of the balance in the relationship,
causing a defensive reaction rather that the
positive effect expected. This is a proven fact
in psychology, it called rationalization. Look
it up if you don't believe me. You have paid
or are paying good money for an instructor to
teach you, get your money's worth! Remember,
they are well trained in how to instruct, you
are not. Regardless of how good your intention,
ability or well you think you know what you're
teaching, you are definitely not going to help
things, you'll only ruin a potentially great
sharing experience together. You also could
be teaching something that is or can develop
into a bad habit, making your progress slower
as it is very difficult to undo bad habits as
opposed to learning them right in the first
place, which is an area where you instructor
is an expert.
2.
Patience, Patience,
Patience. (Do Not
Criticize!) For the same reason above, often
one partner loses his/her patience with their
partner for not learning or progressing as quickly
and they feel "held back" from what
they are capable of. I list suggestions 4 and
5 to resolve this issue. This impatience can
have several seriously adverse effects. It's
hard to hide impatience and very easy for others
to pick up. This puts great pressure on your
partner and sometimes even on your instructor,
as it's difficult to teach or learn under that
circumstance. Second, it often causes the more
advanced partner to be short, condescending
or even cross with their partner. This can put
serious strains not only on the learning and
enjoyment, but often carries over into other
areas of the relationship. When your patience
is short with your partner, remember that (hopefully)
this is someone you care a great deal for and
that in your heart you do not want to hurt them
or your relationship, as your goal together
is to strengthen your relationship, not make
it a win/lose situation. There are no winners
in a relationship when one criticizes.
3.
Attend Group Lessons and Parties.
We highly suggest this regardless of whether
both partners are of equal ability or one is
picking up faster and/or you only want to dance
with each other (for several reasons). Regardless
of how well you know a pattern, if you do not
lead or follow well, then knowing a step won't
help. It also makes things difficult on your
partner. Not to sound chauvinistic but I've
met few women dancers who didn't feel "If
the man is a good lead I can follow". Sadly,
this is rarely the case. You may think you follow
well but if that's your attitude, the odds are
you really don't and men are just polite about
it. The truth is that following is an art, even
the best of leads cannot get you through all
steps with all partners . When you can do that,
you can follow well. Dancing with different
partners at different levels does 3 things:
1. Quickly increases your ability
to lead/follow. 2. Allows a
faster learning partner to dance w/ more advanced
dancers helping them dance to their full potential.
3. Introduces you and your
partner to new people and circles opening up
many dance opportunities for both you and your
partner. Please don't underestimate the usefulness
of group lessons and parties.
4.
Occasionally Take Separate Lessons
From Your Partner.
3 main reasons but many other side benefits.
One is that it gives the slower partner more
time (with less pressure and criticism) to work
on both patterns and lead/follow, expediting
(speeding) their progress, thus the advanced
partner is happier when you are back dancing
together. Second, it allows the faster partner
to dance more advanced patterns and techniques,
thus dancing more to their potential. Thirdly,
it allows the instructor more time to work on
styling, which most women want desperately but
don't get the opportunity as there isn't enough
time in the lesson when you work together w/
your partner. This tip in itself is probably
the greatest way to overcome differences in
dance levels or the ability to pick up. If you
doubt the truth in this, try it just once. We
bet you'll see the benefits within the first
10 minutes of the lesson (if not sooner).
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